Split roller bearing



April 7,1931. 6. w. TAYLOR SPLIT ROLLER BEARING Filed Feb, '3, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 \VI 4 vi.

s Sheets-Shet- 2 Filu Feb. 3, 1927 April 7, 1931. G. w. TAYLOR 1,799,447

SPLIT ROLLER BEARING Filed Feb. 5 192v s Sheets-Sheet s Iwvewfor Patented Ar. 71,1931

' ran as 1 ononon rnrton, or WELLESLEY, nnssncnnsnr'rs, Assrenon, nr MESNE nssronrrnnrs, ro nnnonn J. can, or Warnn'rovvn, inassncnnsn'rrs srtrr notnnn nine Application flied February 3, 1927; Serial Ito. 165,619.

My present invention is a novel and'im proved roller bearing, of the type illustrated and described in my prior and eo-pending application, Serial No. 155,390, filed Decem- 5 her 1926, and is adapted for use'in installations and applications Where it is imprac-.

tical to utilize an annular bearing.

While the bearing illustrated and described in my said co-pending application is applilt cable for axles, line shafting, and the like,

there are many instances Where the instal-' lation of such an annular bearing would render the use of such an annular hearing undesirable. Toinstall annular hearings on 1 line shatting, for example, requires a stripping of the entire shaft, which is obviously an undesirable feature.

To overcome this difficulty, therefore, I have devised my present novel bearing, permitting the installation of the same to any a part of a line shaftin'g or other otherwise inaccessible locations. To accomplish this desirable result it provide a roller bearing,

having an inner and outer race, said races being split or separable into arcuate sections, said sectional races being united at the lines of separation in such manner as not to interfere with the eficient functioning oil -the rollers operating or Working in the races art to have invented such a novel split hearing, and l have therefore claimed said hearing hroadlyherein.

A further feature ofthe present invention consists in the provision of a series of roll ers, applicable for use in a roller bearing, said series of rollers being formed as a flex- .ible chain or unit. In carrying out this phase of the invention, each pair of rollers is united b a link or clip, each link being separate from the link connecting succeeding rollers,

, thus permitting extreme flexibility of the series. oit rollers so connected. I preferably utilize a plurality of main supporting roll- So far as l arn avvare, 1 am the first in the ers, each supporting roller having. a central a retaining ring,and having means to preconstructing said housing for reception of my novel bearing. I m

l also preferably split the inner and outer races on lines of separation in such manner that the four lines of split or separation required will never be in alinement, although for certain applicationsot the bearings, such 5 as in idler pulleys or the like, I may desire to split the bearing races into two equal or substantially equal halves, and for this rea son do not desire to limit myself to the' proportion of splitillustrated in the present apto plication. v v lln the application of the hearing of the present application to journal boxes for line. shatting, for example, it prefer to split the outer race into sections or approximately to three quarters and one quarter. in this Way, the pointer greatest strain in the hearing will have an unbroken surface throughout three quarters of the periphery of the outer ring, the greatest strain coming on the hotsotom and sides.

Further features of the invention, novel combinations of. parts, details, and advantages, will he hereinafter more fully pointed out and claimed, v 85 Referring to the drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention,

Fig. l is aside elevation of a journal hon partly in section;

Fig, 2 is a cross sectional view on the line" 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig, 3 is a vertical'section showing the journal mounted in a hanger;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional detail illustrating 95 a modified form of locking means for the journal;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a pair of sup porting rollers connected by the uniting or rota clip Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view illustrating the method of assembling the bearing and the journal housing; A

Fi 8 is a plan view illustrating the jointure between the sections;

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view on the line 9-9 of Fig. 7 further illustrating the connection or joint between the outer race ring and housing;

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the inner ring, illustrating the component parts of said ring;

I Fig. 11 is a cross sectional detail illustrating the outer race when formed as a separate unit apart from the housing or containing member;

Fig. 12 is a side elevation of a plurality of rollers united in a flexible unit and I Fig. 13 is a. top plan View of a section of the fiexibleunit of Fig. 12;

'FigJ14: is a side elevation, partly in section, of a difierent form of split journal;

Fig. 15 is a cross sectional view of the structure of Fig. 14t in position ready for assembling; and

Fig. 16 is a detail of the outer race rings illustrating the form of joint therebetween.

As shown in the drawings l have applied my novel split bearing to a shaft journal 1,

which journal is channelled, adjacent each end, at 2, if two bearing points in the journal are desired, otherwise the journal would be channelled at but one point. My novel split bearing comprises an outer race consisting of three rin s 8, 4 and 5. The middle'ring t extends time the surface of the rings 3 and 5 and is bevelled at its sides, as clearly illustrated. The inner race comprises three rings 6, 7 and,\8, enclosed in a retaining cap 9. The inner sides of the outer rings 7. and 8 are likewise bevelled. l Vorking in these concentric races are a plurality of main supporting rollers 10, and each pair of support-v ing rollers has therebetween a pair of separating rollers 11, confined in a retaining ring 12, which retaining ring extends into a groove 13 formed centrally of each supporting roller. The main supporting rollers as well as the separating rollers and retaining rings are substantially identical with the roller elements illustrated in my said copending application, Serial No. 155,390, with the exception that in the present instance each of the supporting rollers has a pair of hubs or pins greater in which slots .19 the hubs 14: of the rollers 10 are adapted to roll. The slots 19 are pref- I erably of slightly greater size than the diameter of the hub 14, to reduce the friction between the hubs 14 and walls of the slots 19.

Figs. 5, 12 and 13 illustrate the uniting of the rollers by these clips, Figs. 12 and 13 illustrating very clearlythe flexible roller unit resulting from such union. The inner bearing race is illustrated as fitted on a shaft 20, the race being at 21,21, into two race being sprung or fitted on to the shaft 20. The outer race is likewise split, but in the present instance it prefer to split the outer race at approximately the points illustrated preferably split as shown halves, the halves of the at 22, 22.. Thus, as clearly illustrated, there v is an unbroken bearing surface from one point 22 throughout approximately three quarters of the circumference of the outer race, provding an unbroken bearing contact surface at the points where'such contact is most important. In the present instance, as in line shafting, the main weight bears on the lower portion of the bearing, and hence the unbroken surface is provided at the most essential point. 1 have likewise illustrated the housing 1 as being split at 23, 23, the outer race rings 3, dand 5 being sprung into the groove 2 throughout approximately three quarters of the circumference of the housing,

and likewise sprung into the one quarter fragwill be no appreciable'joint to interrupt the smooth surface over which the rollers travel. 1 The outer rings 7 and 8 of the inner race are split on the lines 25,'each of which'is odset from the diagonal line of separation '24,

continuous throughout the width of the inner race. To accomplish a similar result in the outer race I extend the outer rings 3 and 5 beyond the joint 23 in the housing, these rings 3 and 5 being split at an angle, and project ing beyond the joint 23, as clearly shown at 26, the end 27 of the middle ring 4: being flush with the joint 23. The outer ring 3 and 5 in the portion 28 of the housing 1 are likewise split at an angle, as illustrated at 29, so that the section 28 of the housing 1 with the ring sections therein may be readily fitted on to the main housing and outer race portion.

may, if desired, split the housing 1 into two half sections, rather than on the proportion so that the line of separation or joint, 15 not of three" quarters to one quarter, while retaining the ratio of three quarters to one quarter split in the outer race, as will be more fully described,

The housing portions 1 and 28 are united in any suitable manner, as by lugs 30 and bolts 31, insuring firm positioning of the outer race rings at theirlinesof union. .l

As shown in Fig. 10, 1 preferably apply the cap or retaining sleeve 9 of the inner race in such manner that it will extend beyond the line of separation of the inner ring as shown at 32, on one side, and will consequently fall short of the line of separation on the oppo-' site side, as at 33. On the other half of the inner race the cap or sleeve 9 will project beyond the line of separation on the side where it falls short of the line of separation on the opposite half of the inner race, and vice versa, so that the uncture of the cap or sleeve 9 will be in a different line than that of the of the race rings.

ll may desire to form the outer race as a unit separate from. the housing enclosing the same. Thus, insteadof channelling the housing to receive the outer rings 3, 4 and 5, I may provide a clamping or retaining cap or sleeve 34 for these rings, similar to the cap 9 for the inner-race In this structure, the

bearing could be assembled as a unit, anolslid into position within a solid housing, or

could be utilized with a split housing with equal eficiency.

ll may also desire to utilize, between the shaft 20 and the inner bearing race, an equalizer, to compensate "for any misalinement,

, twist or varying size, in the shaft.- The mg, these plates 44 being provided with gasjournal housing is provided with a plurality oi drilled or rounded bearing surfaces 35, to receive the ends of lock screws 36, by means or which loch screws the housing is mounted in a hanger 37. The lower side 38,. or bottdm member of the hanger is hinged or pivotally connected at each end as shown at 39, 39, permitting ready installation or removal of the journal and bearing from the hanger after it is in position, or suspended from the overhead support by rods or the like, not shown. Thus, my entire novel journal, bearing, and component parts is adapted for installation in line shafting already in operation, without stripping the line shafting, as must be done with present forms of bearings. In Fig. 4 is shown a modified form of lock screw 40, provided with a socket member 41 having a curved lower face 42 to fit closely the rounded surface 43 of the housing, and adapted to permit free movement of the housing relative to the socket member 41 to permit the housing to accommodate itself to any un evenness or crookedness in the 'shafting, although such crookedness or unevenness would be largely ifnot entirely taken care of by the equalizer shown in my said co-pending application.

The journal housing has end plates 44 which are secured in position after the assembled bearings are positioned in the housjuncture kets 45 fitting snugly against thrust collars 46 on the shaft 20.

It will be appreciated that the action and function of the race rings, inner and outer, and the rollers, is the same as thoroughly de scribed in my co-pendingapplication on the annular bearing Serial No. 155,390, and for this reason I will not go into detail as to the roller structures. However,it will be ap 'preciatedthat the outer bevel edges 47 of the main supporting rollers cooperate with the bevel edges 48 of the outer rings on the inner race, and the inner bevel edges 49-0n the rollers 1O cooperate with the bevel edges 50 on the inner ring 4 of the outer race, in such manner that shocks, forces, radial or axial thrusts aredissipated throughout the bearing, passing as they do from one bevel edge 48 of the inner race through approximately one third of the main supporting roller to one bevel edge 50, across the ring 4 andfrom the other bevel edge 50 to the outer bevel edge 48 'of the inner "race. Friction, and hence wear, are reduced to a minimum in my novel bearing.

In Fig. 7 is illustrated the method of as: sembling my novel-split bearing in a journal housing for line shafting, although it will be appreciated that the same method and similar structure may be utilized for other purposes. In said Fig. 7 the hall sections of the inner race-designated generally at 51 and 52, have been snapped together or assembled around a shaft 53. The chain of united rollers, designated generally as 54, is then fed between the inner race sections 51- and'52 and the three quarter section 1 of the housing, having the outer race rings therein. To complete the roller bearing assembly, the last unit of separating rollers, comprising the pair of rollers 55 and their retaining ring 56, are sna peel or chain 51. With the addition of this last unit sprung between the two end rollers 5 of the of separating rollers and ring, the roller beara ing element is complete and iills the spaces between the races without any play or looseness. The quarter section 28 of the housing,

having the quarter sections of the outer races therein, is then placed over the thus assembled bearing and housing and secured in place by means of the bolts 31 or in any suitable or de-- sirable manner, as illustrated in Fig. $2. When thus assembled, the contacting ends of. the outer race rings 3, 4 and 5 will meet in a flush even joint, so that there will be no in- I halves 58 and 59 united by bolts 60 passing through lugs 61 on the half sections, The

In this form the hous-i ournal is illustrated as mounted on shaft 62, and is divided along the line illustrated at 63. From. the manufacturing standpoint, it will be much simpler to make the housing sections 58 and 59 as shown in these Figs, 14.- and 15, as the channels for receiving the outer race rings 64, 65 and 66 can obviously be more easily formed in a half housing than in a three quarter housing. Also, this present form has a "further advantage in that none of the lines of split are opposite the lines of split in the adjacent members comprising the bearing and housing. in other words, each line of split or joint, in the inner race, outer race, and housing, are presented to an unbroken surface in the race or journal next thereto. Thus, as shown 1n Flg. 15, the outer race rings extend beyond or above the channel in the lower half section 59 a considerable distance, whereas the outer race rings in the upper half section 58 occupy but a part oi the channel 67 in which said rings tit Thus, when the flexible roller chain 68 is inserted between the inner race 69 and outer race, the last unit of separating rollers 70 and their retaining ring 71 is snapped or sprung into position and the upper half section with the race rings are then smaller portions of the @n being assembled ready to be assembled.

with the lower section, the ends oil the rings or, 65 and 66 will meet, and bymeans of the bolts 60 through the lugs 61 the housing can be joined to the point where the outer race rings meet in a flush joint. Fig. 16 illustrates the method in which these outer rings areiormed, the ring 64 being formed at the I joining edges at an angle as illustrated 72,

and the ends of the ring 66 being formed at an angle as illustrated at 73., The ends of the ring 65 are formed with a straight lateral out, as the rollersdo not ride or roll on the surface of this ring 65. When the housing is assembled the edges 72 and 73 will meet in a flush closed joint and thus will not intertere with or interrupt the passage of the rollers there'over. In order to provide "for the holding of the housing sections by the hanger screws, ll may form a. lug We on each section, one extending from the bottom half over the line of split to the upper half, and the other extending from the upper half over the line of split to the lower half. A suitable surface or recess 75 to receive the usual hanger screws is provided in the lug 74c. 'lhrust collars 76 are also provided,as well as the end plates 77 and gaskets or washers 78.

The form of housing and bearing just described is simple to manufacture, easy to install, and readily removable and separable in case of possible breakage or damage. I

While I have necessarily described my present invention somewhat in detail, it will be appreciated that l may vary the size, shape, and arrangement of parts, within rea- 7 mo es? of rings, separated along irregular longitudinal lines, an inner race comprisinga pin-- rality or rings separated along irregular longitudinal lines, the abutting ends in the rings of each race being constructed and arranged to provide a divided uninterrupted bearln surface. I

2, In a roller bearingmi the kind described, an outer race comprising a plurality of rings, separated along irregular longitudinal lines, an inner race comprising a plurality of rings separated along irregular lines, the abutting ends in the rings of each race being constructed and arranged to provide an uninterrupted bearing surface, said races having parallel opposed bearing surr aces,.a plurality of supporting rollers rolling on the parallel opposed bearing surfaces of I said races, a pans of separating rollers between each pairof supporting rollers, each of said supporting rollers being formed with a groove centrally thereof, the edges out the rollers adjacent said groove being bevelled, and one of the rings in the outer race projecting into said groove and having bevelled edges to cooperate with the said bevelled edges of the supporting rollers, said support ing rollers also having their outer ends bevelled, the outer rings of the inner race projecting above the bearing surface of the race and being bevelled to cooperate with. the outer bevelled edges of the supporting rollers.

3., In a roller bearing for shafting, an inner race, an outer race, a hoiising, a series of rollers working in said races, and means to vpermit partial rotation of said housing around said shaft,

4-. A device of the kind described, comprising a plurality of supporting rollers, each pair of supporting rollers bein pivotally united by a removable clip, whereby a flexible roller bearing element is produced.

5. A. device of the kind described, comprlsing a series oisupporting rollers, eachv of said rollers having a central projection at each end thereof, and each roller beingv able retaining clip, each ofsaid clips being separable from the adjacent clip.

7, A device of the kind described, comprising a series of supporting rollers, each of said rollers having a fixed central projecturther described and detion at each end thereof, and each roller being connected to its adjacent roller by a removable retaining clip, each of said clips being separable from the adjacent clip, and 5 each of said clips being formed with elongated apertures to receive said central proections.

8 A device of the kind described, comprising a series of supporting rollers, each of said rollers having an integral central projection at each end thereof, each roller eing connected to its adjacent roller by a removable retaining clip, each of said clips being separable from the adjacent clip, and each of said clips being formedwith apertures to receive said integral central projec tions.

9. A removable retaining clip of the kind described, comprising a body portion, arms depending from said body portion and having apertures in their ends.

10. A. retaining clip of the kind described, comprising a body portion, T-shaped arms depending from said body portion, the ends of said arms being in a different plane from the main portion of said arms and having apertures therein.

11. A removable retaining clip of the kind described, comprising a pair of connecting links formed with elongated races adjacent to their ends, the ortions of the links containing said races Being offset from the rest of the links.

12., A removable retaining clip of the kind described, comprising a pair of connecting links formed with elongated races adjacent to their ends, the ortions of the links containin s'aid races, eing offset from the rest of the 'nks, and a U-shaped bridge connecting said links. j v 13. A removable retaining clip of flexible metal, comprising a pair of connecting links having elongated races adjacent to their ends, the portions of said links having said races therein being offset from the rest of the links, and a substantially U-shaped bridge uniting said links said links being bendable relatively to said bridge.

14. A removable retaining clip of flexible metal, comprising a pair of connecting links having races ad acent to their ends, and a substantially U-shaped brid e uniting said links said links being benda le relatively to said bridge.

abuttin e ges of the said races being constructe an arranged to provide an uninterrupted bearing surface, said races having parallel opposed bearing surfaces, a pluralng of supporting rollers rolling on the paral- 1 0p osed bearing surfaces of said races, a 5 pair 0 separating rollers between each pair of 15. In a roller bearing of the kind de-- supporting rollers, each of said supporting rollers being formed with a groove centrally thereof, the edges of the rol ers adjacent to said groove being bevelled, a rib in said outer race projecting into said groove and having bevelled edges to cooperate with the said bevelled edges of the supporting rollers, said supporting rollers also having their outer ends bevelled, and flan es on the inner race projecting above the aring surface of said race and bein bevelled to cooperate with the outer beve ed edges of the supporting rollers.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

GEORGE W. TAYLOR. 

